BRAVO! Event & Party Rental’s Blog
Just another WordPress.com weblogArchive for July, 2011
Using TheKnot.com to Stay Organized While Planning Your Wedding
One of the best pieces of advice I can give any bride that is recently engaged is to join TheKnot.com. This website is one of best tools for staying organized, getting ideas, and planning your wedding. Since TheKnot.com offers so much; we will be offering a series of blogs related to these subjects; starting off with staying organized.
My Checklist
My Check List option guides you through each step of 188 “to-dos” from when to pick the wedding date, to working on thank you cards and EVERYTHING in between. Beside each task there is a time frame on when it should be completed. After you have completed a task that item is then moved to the completed category. In this function you can even set up reminders and print your check list.
Check List
Each task has clickable links that take you to a new page and gives you more information on that particular topic. For example, clicking on “Pick your bridesmaids” will lead you to a separate page with articles on how to pick your bridesmaids, pictures that will help you to choose bridesmaid dresses and links to websites to get bridesmaid gifts.
TheKnot.com now offers My Check List on the go. “It’s the exact same checklist that you use on TheKnot.com — now in a new mobile phone format.
Use your mobile to view your reminders and check off wedding-planning tasks while you’re out and about. Then, when you log in to your wedding checklist at home (or, ahem, at work) it’ll already be up-to-date. Easy!,” says TheKnot.com.
Check List App
My Budgeter
Whether you and your fiancé are paying for the wedding or family is footing the bill it is important to stay on budget. TheKnot.com’s My Budgeter tool is a simple and convenient way to keep track of all your expenses. The Budget option is broken into two categories
1) The Budget
2) The Payment Tracker
They are both set-up to budget and keep track of all of your vendors. The budget tool even allows you to personalize your budget by adding unique vendors such as Zimbodi Fireworks . It also allows you to see what you have spent to date and what you have left to spend.
Budget
Payment
My Guest List
TheKnot.com offers a great way to keep a record of your guest list for any events throughout your engagement up until your big day. It will allow you to import an excel document, include guests’ contact information, keep track of RSVP’s and create seating charts. It even allows you to make sending “thank-you” cards easier; by keeping track of the gifts that you have received and who gave it to you.
Guest List
My Wedding Website
TheKnot.com offers all of its members free templates for couples to create their own wedding website. You can upload pictures, share your story and share your gift registries. Creating a wedding website is a great tool for your guest, especially those who are out of town. You can insert maps, directions and information on accommodations, the ceremony and the venue.
Wedding Website
Make sure you read next week’s blog topic, “Using TheKnot.com to Plan your Wedding”
I Pronounce the Marriage of… your Wedding and Facebook
If you are anything like me, you find out A LOT about your friends on Facebook. From landing that new job, to seeing pictures of that awesome vacation spot they just got back from, and I especially LOVE getting to be a part of their entire wedding process. From the announcement of their engagement to the day of their wedding; even while they’re on the honeymoon I am along for the ride. Keep in mind though like everything else in life there are certain do’s and don’t when comes to handling your wedding details on Facebook.
Chelsie Johndrow and Fiancé
Zedick Wedding
DO- Make sure you inform family members and close friends about your engagement before posting it on Facebook.
While Facebook is a great way of letting people know about your life; I know I am not alone in the fact that I would feel hurt if I found out my sister or best friend was engaged on Facebook instead of from them personally. After you have told the people closest to you then you can share it with the whole world wide web.
DON’T use social media to ask your girlfriends to be your bridesmaids.
When asking your girlfriends to be bridesmaids you are letting them know that you care about your friendship so much that you want them to be an intimate part of that special day and the way you ask them should be just as intimate. If your girlfriends live in town ask them in person or take them to lunch. If they live out of town you can always send them a personal note, a “Will you be my Bridesmaid?” card from Pretty and Pink, or an edible “Will you be my Bridesmaid?” cookie from Buttercreams.
Pretty in Pink
Buttercream
DO ask Facebook friends for referrals
If you see pictures from a friends wedding on Facebook and you love their photographer, wedding cake, flowers, linens, venue, tent or anything else don’t be shy about sending them a quick message asking for recommendations. Facebook can be a great way of getting first hand advice and references so use it to your advantage.
BRAVO! Event and Party Rentals and Kelly Moore
BRAVO! Event and Party Rentals
DON’T constantly update your status with every detail of your wedding
While we understand the excitement and stressfulness of your wedding not everybody in your friends list feels the same way. Your friends don’t want to be annoyed with what is happening every second of the wedding process or if you are having a negative experience.
For example,
“Picking out the wedding invitation today,”
“Wedding invitation FINALLY came in the mail. It took FOREVER!,”
“Putting the wedding invitation together is a lot harder than I thought, Maybe if I had some help it would go a lot faster!”
“Mailing out the wedding invitations today,”
“Why don’t people RSVP like they are supposed to do? I am so ready for this wedding to be over.”
Try to keep statuses positive and light for example if you just finished picking out your wedding dress you could say something like…
“Had the best time with the ladies from The Little White Dress today. I found the ONE and yes I did cry!” This is also a good way to let your vendors know how much you appreciate them!
Say Yes to the Dress
DO follow your wedding vendors on Facebook.
A lot of times vendors will offer special deals and contest only on Facebook and by being connected you will be privy to this information. You can also see the work that they are currently doing and it will help build a great relationship during the process. Even if you haven’t picked out your vendors yet, use Facebook to check out their profiles, pictures, and past clients to get a feel for them and if they are the right fit for you.
DON’T post pictures and details unless you don’t mind honest opinions of your friends.
You may not think you care what people think of the center piece you are using or the color scheme of your wedding until you post a picture of it and somebody says something negative. Besides, let your guests be surprised when they attend your wedding. You don’t want them to feel that they’ve already attended on Facebook.
Good luck planning and keep us updated on Facebook at BRAVO! Event Rentals!
Check out this week’s BRAVO! Blog bravo
Check out this week’s BRAVO! Blog bravoevents.wordpress.com: “Hosting A Green Event”: Over the past few years it’s been the “in thing” to go environmentally friendly. http://wp.me/pqQHE-5j
“Hosting A Green Event”
Over the past few years it’s been the “in thing” to go environmentally friendly. Individuals and businesses alike have been making this transition into the green world and event planning is no exception. Here are a few tips make your next event green:
Use online invitations.
This has become a growing trend 
for both personal as well as business events. There are many upscale companies online to choose from. A few links are http://new.evite.com/ and http://www.paperlesspost.com.
In the event you feel your occasion is too formal and deserves a paper invite, make sure you use recycled paper. A few good resources for printed invitations are www.vistaprint.com, www.yousendit.com, and www.finestationery.com.
Dump the plastic.
Instead of using plastic dinnerware, cups and flatware, go real. Using real china, glassware and flatware for your guest place setting will make a much better impression. If washing dishes at the end of your evening isn’t your cup of tea, upscale rental items are the way to go. At BRAVO! Event & Party Rentals, www.BRAVOEVENTRENTAL.com our tableware comes racked and ready to go. When you’re done, just put the items in their original racks and we do the rest.
Replace paper napkins with linens.
There’s nothing more inviting than the feeling of a crisp clean linen nap
kin wait ing f or you at your place setting. White cotton napkins are easily accessible at most stores and at most rental companies also. A great website for linen ideas is http://www.linenshowroom.com.
Think of creative ways to fold your napkins. They can double as decorative flatware pockets.
Decorate with nature.
Get creative – use items from your or your neighbors yards for your centerpiece. Depending on your theme you can use fruits, berries, pine cones, seashells and leaves. Not only will you save money but the environment also.
We want to know about your events. Was this article helpful? Let us know your decorating issues and/or ideas.
Adding Color with Chair Ties
Adding a pop of color to your chair in the form of a chair tie is a great way to bring in your color scheme. The more traditional look is tying a bow around the chair, but a bow can be time consuming and more and more brides are wanting a more contemporary look. There are many options available to fit your personality. Watch the video below to learn about all the different ways you can use a chair tie for your chairs.
Chair ties or not only used for chairs, but they are also used to add a pop of color to a cocktail table. Cocktail tables are a great way for your guests to socialize at your event while being a practical place for your guests to eat or use during a cocktail hour. We have seen many people use the cocktail tables around the dance floor as a place for their guests to sit their drinks while they are dancing. Below, learn how to use a chair tie to make a statement on the cocktail table.
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